Present simple

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Present simple

Daisy is chatting to her brother Oliver, and his best mate Alfie, about her new boyfriend. Daisy and Oliver’s mum is working in Thailand this week.

Instructions

As you watch the video, look at the examples of the present simple. They are in red in the subtitles. Then read the conversation below to learn more. Finally, do the grammar exercises to check you understand, and can use, the present simple tense.

We use the present simple to talk about repeated actions or events, permanent states or things which are always true. To find out more about the present simple, read and listen to the conversation below.

Can you give me some examples?

Yes, of course. We use the present simple to talk about things which are repeated every day, every week, every year, etc.

I usually get up at 7 o'clock.
During the week I have swimming practice on Mondays, I do taekwondo on Tuesdays and tennis on Thursdays.
We always go on holiday in the summer.

I see. And you use words for explaining more about the time too.

Yes, we often use adverbs of frequency sometimes, often, usually or other time expressions like on Mondays, twice a week or in the summer.

What about permanent states? What does that mean?

Permanent states are situations or feelings which are not temporary.

I like him a lot.
Sophie works as a travel writer.
They live in London.

We also use the present simple for general facts, for example when talking about science or geography.

Thailand is really hot at this time of year.
Snakes live on the ground, in trees and in water.

So what do I need to know about forming the present simple?

The main thing is that the third person singular forms end in -s or -es. That's for he, she or it.

He watches black and white films at his cinema club on Wednesdays.
He thinks chess is a sport!

OK, and the other forms don't end in -s or -es? I watch TV a lot. We think Coldplay are boring.

Correct!

What about questions and negatives?

For most verbs we use the present simple of the verb do/does + subject + infinitivewithout to to form questions.

Do you see him on Wednesdays then?Does Jack like sports?

For negatives we use the subject + do/does + not + infinitive withoutto.

Daisy and Jack don't go out together much at the weekend.
I don't think Coldplay are boring.

To go back to the idea of permanent and temporary things, what about this sentence: Is your mum in Thailand this week? Isn't that temporary?

Yes, it is. That's a very good point. Normally we use the present simple for permanent states, and the present continuous for temporary states, but some verbs are thought of as State Verbs and they are not usually used in the continuous form.

And the verb to be is one of those verbs?

Exactly! So even though staying in Thailand is temporary, we use the present simple with the verb to be. Here's another example:

How's Daisy? Is she with you?

But that isn't the question form you just told me about! Where's the do?

Ah, no. I said 'for most verbs we use do in questions'. The verb to be is different and so are modal verbs like can. We'll look at the verb to be separately because it's different and very common.

What are the other state verbs?

We'll look at those when we look at the Present Continuous. Any more questions?

Yes, what about: The train leaves at 5 in the morning? Isn't that talking about an event in the future?

Yes, it is, but it's also a repeated event. This is sometimes called the 'timetable future'.

OK, I have a maths class in a minute, so I have to go.

Good use of the 'timetable future'! Bye!

Check your grammar: multiple selection - present simple

Do this exercise to practise your understanding of when we use the present simple.

Check your grammar: multiple choice - present simple

Do this exercise to practise the present simple.

Check your grammar: gap fill - present simple

Do this exercise to practise the present simple.

Worksheets and downloads

Transcript

Transcript:

Alfie: So, how’s it going with Jack?Daisy: Not great. I mean, I like him a lot, but it’s impossible! During the week I have swimming practice on Mondays, I do taekwondo on Tuesdays and tennis on Thursdays.Alfie: Do you see him on Wednesdays, then?Daisy: No, he watches black and white films at his cinema club on Wednesdays.Oliver: Yeah, and they’re not just really old films, Alfie, they watch foreign ones with subtitles too!Alfie: Well, there’s always the weekend. Do you go out together at the weekends?Daisy: That’s just it, it’s tricky. He works in the bookshop all day Saturday and he goes out with his mates from the book club on Saturday evenings.Alfie: Whoa! Book club? So, he loves old films and books!? Mmm ... Does he like sports?Daisy: Not really. He thinks chess is a sport! Well, he watches football on the telly sometimes, but he doesn’t play any sports.Alfie: Mmm ... I think you’re right. It’s impossible!Daisy: Right, I’m late. See you later.Alfie and Oliver: See you, Daisy.

Sophie: Hi, love.Oliver: All right, Mum?Sophie: Yeah, I’m fine.Oliver: Good trip?Sophie: Not bad, but Thailand’s really hot at this time of year. I’m off to Chiang Mai tomorrow to do a three-day trek. The train leaves at 5 in the morning. How’s Daisy? Is she with you?Oliver: No, she has tennis on Thursdays.Sophie: Ah, of course. No problem. Listen, ask Daisy to phone me later, OK? The number of the hotel is on the fridge and I’m in room 37.Oliver: All right, Mum. Speak later. Watch out for the snakes!Sophie: Thanks, Ollie! Bye, love. See you Sunday.Alfie: Is your mum in Thailand this week?Oliver: Yeah. Trekking in Chiang Mai for three days.Alfie: Wow – that beats going to college. Imagine, three days in the jungle! I can’t imagine my mum doing that. Cool. Does she like walking?Oliver: No, not really. Only if it’s to go shopping on the high street!Alfie: See you tomorrow.Oliver: Yeah, see you tomorrow.

Discussion

Comments

I sometimes confuse with present simple and continuing aspect.
For example, I'm not sure if this sentence is right.
"My friedns often gently blame me for my oblivescence since back in the day".
Can anyone help me?

I get up early morning to preparing to class.I cook hotcake by myself in the kitchen .I stir egg and powder in a bowl ,after that I pour it on the flying pan.I bake it 3 minute on the pan .I eat it with honey and one cup of coffee.After I wear clothes in my room.I go to bus stop at 7 am.I read a book on the public bus.I study lot of things in a class.After school I come back home as soon as possible to do homework.At 6 pm I take a bath and take a shower.
I eat dinner alone at 7 pm .I watch a TV or listing a podcast.I go to bed at 10 pm. I sleep on a bed 10:30 pm.I enjoy a dream alone.

I generally get up in 8:00 morning, then I bush my teeth, take a shower, have a breakfast. I go to the work, my work stars 12:30 and ends 4:30. I drive to go home, I watch tv, I cook, I plan my class, listen to music, I go to bed and I sleep.

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Hi Nerio024. Good question! For the answer, look at the whole verb phrase: 'gets told off'. It's actually a passive structure (get + past participle), and 'told off' is the past participle of 'tell off'. The sentence is about the present (because 'gets' is in the present tense).

Typical? Well, life is unplanned for me. Okay, I get up and go to school, and you should expect the unexpected. You don't know what's gonna happen in school, and it's just so cool!!! One day you find yourself conducting experiments, on the other you're preparing for a speech, and on another you're having a fight. And I come back from school, and start studying after a long nap. And after studying, I look out for the remote, draw, write, and do whatever I "can" until dinner. As for weekends, they're exciting. I meet my cousins, and everytime I do, it's something interesting! Or else just pass time in home, and trying to tease my father. ✌
I really enjoy life and childhood. It's just so unexpected, and unexpected is unexpectedly great!!! :))))

Hi shamim. That’s right. The present simple is often used for future events which are part of a timetable or a schedule, for example a bus, plane or train and what time it leaves or arrives, what time a shop opens or closes, or when and where an event such as a party will take place.

A: What time does this shop close tonight? B: At 8 pm.

We’re taking a break now, but class starts again at 3:30.

Our train leaves London at 1 pm and gets to Manchester around 3 pm.

Hurry up! The film starts at 6:30!

My birthday party is next Friday at 8 pm. Please come!

You can consider some of these (such as the first example) as repeated events, so using the present simple for them makes sense. However, notice that even single future events can take the present simple (such as the last example) – as long as they are understood as scheduled. That’s why in the Grammar snack above, this use is referred to as the ‘timetable future’.

Hello. I usually get up at 7:00. After I take a shower and I have a breakfast. And then I leave my house and take the bus to the school. The school start 9:00. After school I go to the library and I study english.
After I go back home and eat dinner. I have a free time then I watch movie and relax with my family. I go to bed at 12:00.

Hello!
I get up 5.30 o'clock weekdays. I wash face and brush my teeth. I don't have breakfast because I don't like breakfast. I wear dress and I leave home 6.15 o'clock. ı come to school. I buy tea and biscuit and I start lesson 8.40 o'clock. I finish lesson 12.30 o'clock. After I go to bus station with Ebrar Sena. I talk bus with Sena. I get off the bus and I walk my home. I go to bed but I don't sleep. I study lesson. After I cook everydays.Because my mother and my father go to work.They came back home at 8.00 pm or 9.00 pm. I have dinner with my family. ı read a book because I love it. Finally I go to bed 12.00 o'clock.

I get up at 6,00 o'clock in weekdays. I never have a breakfast in weekdays. Because so early :D I go to the university with tram and metrobus. Lesson starts at 8,40 o'clock. Lesson finishes at 12,30 o'clock. I usually go to home at 2 o'clock. I some watch TV and listen to music. I study English everyday. I have dinner at 9,00 p.m. I go to bed at midnight or 01,00 o'clock.

Hi there!
So i usually wake up at 8.30 in the morning. After open my eyes, i stand up and go to take m'y breakfast. Then i take a shower an brush 'y teeth at the same time. It's now the time to dress up and put some makeup on my face. Finally i take my bag and go to the subway with some music.

My Daily Routines;I get up at 7:00 in the morning.I get dressed.Then I have breakfast with my family.For I brush my theeth.I leave the house at about 8.The school starts at 8:40.I leave the school at 12:30.For I have my lunch.I take a rest for an hour.I finish my homeworks.After I eat dinner.I read a book for one hour.I go to bed at 23:00.

My Daily Routines ; I get up 06.00 o'clock five days a week. I don't have breakfast so I usually hate have breakfast. Only I like drinking tea in the morning. I leave home 06.40 o'clock and 06.45 o'clock get on the bus. I get off the bus 08.00 o'clock and walk to school with my friend Merve. We start lesson 08.40 o'clock. I usually sit at the 2th desk. We finish lesson 12.30 o'clock. I usually tired after lesson. I often go home at once. I go to bed but don't sleep. After I have dinner with family. Finally I study, do homework and after sleep at p.m. 11.00 o'clock.

Hi guys
I get up 05.50 o'clock every day. I wash my hands and face. I usually have breakfast because i love breakfast. I brush my teeth and i leave home 06.50 o'clock. I run to the bus every day. After i ride metrobus and after i ride tram. I walk to school 5-10 minutes. Start lesson and i listen my teahcer. İ leave school 12.00-1 o'clock. I return home. I repeat lesson. I have dinner with my family and i drink afternoon tea. I go to bed 11.00-12.00 p.m. o'clock

Hello!
I generally wake up at 8:00 a.m, I get up and I have a shower, and I breakfast with my family. I maybe do my homework or I see Netflix, later I go to the school and when it finish, I come back to my house.

I every day get up at 8 a.m and on the weekend I get to sleep until lunchtime, I every night go to bed at 1a.m.
I go to school at 9 a.m and come back at 2p.m...I tack a shower to eat something and then I do my homework. I eat lunch with my friends at school and eat dinner with my family, after dinner we watch TV and talk together.

Hi everyone, I'm a beginer so I need helps from you. I watched this video but I don't understand the mean of a sentence. That's : " Wow, that beats going to college." Can u help me explain it? Thank you so much!!!